Photographic-printing apparatus.



G. A. LEY. "PHGTOGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS.

AP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 0.

1,052,732. V Patuented Feb. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Humm i G. A. LEY.

PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1910.

1,052,732. Patented Feb. 11, 1913. 'l

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f e @eee me G Henne/13 G. A. LEY.

PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2 4, 1910. 1,052,732 f Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GEORGE A. LEY, 01|.'l SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PBINTIN G APPARATUS.

Speoication of Letten Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Applioltion med Ily 24, 1910. Serial No. 533,172.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it lmown that I, GEORGE A. LEY, a citi-` zen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county7 of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Photo raphic-Printing Apparatus, of which the' fo lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to photogra hic printing machines of that type in w ich electric lamps are automatically turned on by the closing of the platen and locking of the presser bar and automatically turned oitl upon the releasing of the presser bar and opening of the platen.

The 1nvent-ion has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so that such apparatus will be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and of such design that the making of prints can be carried on with great rapidity.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a system of lighting for such an apparatus including one of more actinic and non-actinic lamps that are automatically controlled by a single switch which closes by the locking of the platen by the presser` bar and opens by the unlocking of such platen.

With these objects in view and others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illust-rate one embodiment of the invention F igure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus closed. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sections'iof the apparatus taken at right angles to each other and taken on lines 2-2 Fig. 3, and 3 3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus with the top section or negative holder removed to show the arrangement of the lamps. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the top section removed. Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of the lighting circuits showing the path of the current when the switch is open and closed.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the casing of the apparatus, which is a boxlike structure having an open inclined top into which is set the negative kholder or top section B. Within the casing A are arranged groups of actinic lamps 1 and 1 mounted in sockets 2 secured to supports 3' .fastened in the casing, and under these lamps is a fiat mirror 4, which serves to refleet and concentrate the light directly upon 'the negative. Also mounted in the caslng is a ruby or non-actinic lamp 5, which is cut into circuit when the actinic lamps are extinguished so as to emit sutlicient light to enable the operator to see when taking out or putting in the negative paper, and this lamp is mounted in a socket 6 suitably secured in the casing. Both groups of actinic lamps and the non-actinic lamp are all connected with a positive wire 7 that is fastened to the terminals 8 of such lamps, while the other terminals 9 of the actinic lamps are connected with a negative wire 10. A shunt wire 11 leads -from the positive wire' to the other terminal 12 of the ruby lam and in the main positive wire 7 is arrange a switch S, which controls the turning on and oil' of the lights. This switch consists of a supporting member 13 of insulation, which carries normall separated spring contacts 14 and 15 to w ich the positlve wire 7 is connected, said wire being cut into for connec tion with the said contacts of the switch. The contact 14, which is normally sprung away from the 'contact 15 is pressed into engagement with the contact 15 when the platen is closed and the presser bar locked, but when the presser bar is released, the switch opens by the contact 14 moving away from the contact 15. The effect of this opening and closing of the switch can be best understood by reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 represents the condition of the circuits when the apparatus is open, with only the non-actinic lamp lighted, it 'belng understood that connection with the ordinary lighting system can be effected by a socket plug 16, as shown in Fig. 1. Current flows through the positive wire 7, the shunt wlre 11, lamp 5, and at this point the current flows, by that portion of t e posit-ive wire 7 between the actinic lamps and switch S, through both groups of actinic lamps, and returns by the negative wire 10, t-he direction of flow being indicated by the arrows. The ruby lamp is of so much less amperage and candle power than the actinic lamps that the current flowing through the latter will not be suticient to cause the filaments to glow, althou n the filaments will be kept warm, and t us be prevented from sudden contraction and expansion when the maximum current is turned on and off. When the printing apparatus is closedto print a negative, t e switch S will be closed, as shownk in Fig. 7, and current now ows through`the positive wires 7 and switch S, both oups of actinic lamps 1 and 1 and negative wire 10. No substantial'fiow of current will take place through the ruby lamp, because the latter is of much higher resistance than the path through the actinic lamps, which latter will contlnue to glow as long as the machine is closed. As soon as the machine is opened, the circuits will be altered by the switch S so that the current will flow through the ruby lamp, which will now be in a series with the actinic lamps. Expressed in a different wa the ruby lamp is never directly connecte with the negative side of the circuit, butl must be connected through the actinic lamps. When the non-actinic lamp is lighted, it is in series with the actinic lamps, and when the actinic lamps are lowing, the non-actinic lamp is in parallel with the feed wire, but the relative resistances of the two paths are such that very little current flows through the non-actinic lamp. The changes effected in the circuits are accomplished by a single switch, which, as stated before, opens and closes automatically so that the operator is required to give no attention to the throwing on and ofi' of the lights.

The negative holding section B consists of a box like structure which is set into the open top of the casing A, and is provided with a surroundin frame 17 which fits on top of and is suita ly secured to the casing. The negative holdin section is open at its bottom so that the dlrect and reflected rays of light from the lamps will pass through the negative plate or film 18 which rests on a shoulder or ledge 19 at the open top of the section B. The paper to be printed is held against the negative by a platen 20, hingedly connected with the negative holding section B so as to swing open and closed, the said platen being composed of hingedly connected parts in the usual manner. Cooperating with the platen is a presser bar 21 hingedly mounted on the section B and having bowed tensioning springs 22 for causing the platen to press the paper against the negative, the presser bar 21 being connected by a link 21 to the platen. On the outer end of the platen is a hinged grip section 23 that has a depending catch 24, which engages a latch 25 on one side of the negative holder. 'Io unlock the presser bar, it is merel necessa to swin the ri 23 u wardliyTf to releii''e the cati-ih froiiyi the latdah and after this is done, the presser bar is thrown back so that the platen will open.

In one of the side walls of the section B, preferably that on which the catch is mounted, is an opening 26 through which extends a push rod 27 that has its lower end bearing on the movable contact 14 of the switch S, and its upper end rotruding lfrom the top of the negative hol er when the presser bar is open. On the under side of the presser bar 1s a yielding block 27 which engages the upper end of the push rod 27 so as to force the latter downwardly and close the switch S when the presser bar is locked closed to make a print. As 'soonvas the presser bar is released, however, the switch S will automatically o en, since the pressure will be released on t e push rod 27 which allows the spring contact 14 of the switch to move away from the other contact 15. On the bottom edge of this wall through which the rod 27 passes, the switch supporting plate 13 is fastened, so that when the section B is removed, it will bc necessary to break the connections between the circuit wires and switch, since the circuit Wires and lamps are fixed in the bottom section A of the apparatus.

To reflect and concentrate the light, the inner faces of the walls of the negative holder or section B are faced Awith plate mirrors 28 and immediately under the negative may be inserted vignetters 29 which can be inserted through an opening 30 in one side of the section B above the frame 17, the said opening being normally' closed by a hinged door 31. In the corners of the section A and disposed between adjacent mirrors are series of corner seats 32, in which the corners of the vignetters may be engaged. On the top of the apparatus may be arranged a receptacle 33 for receiving the rints as they are made, the said receptacle eing removably held 'on the casing by hook fasteners 34.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to whic the invention relates, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes made be made when desired as are within the sco e of the claims.

,What I claim as new an desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. A printing apparatus lcomprising a negative holder adapted to be supported in an inclined position and having an open top and bottom, a source of light for said holder, a platen cooperating with said holder at the top thereof, said negative holder being provided with shoulders for retainin a plate therein, a pressure bar hinged to said holder,

a link connection between said pressure bar and said platen and locking means for holding said pressure bar in platen closing position. v

2. A print apparatus comprising a negative holder adapted to be supported in an inclined position and having an open top and bottom, a source of light for said holder, a platen coperating with said holder atthe top thereof, said negative holder being provided with shoulders for retaining a plate therein, a pressure bar hinged to said holder, a link connection between said pressure bar and said platen and locking means for holding said pressure bar in platen closing position, and a print receiving receptacle removably secured to said apparatus and having an open end contiguous to said negative holder.

3. A printing apparatus comprising a negative holder adapted to be supported in an inclined position and having an open top 'l and bottom, a source of light for said holder,

vided -with shoulders for retainin a platen coperating with said holder at the top thereof, said negative holder being proa plate therein, a pressure bar hinged to said holder, a link connection between said pressure bar and said platen and locking means for holdingsaid pressure bar in laten closing position, rack barsl arrange in said holder at opposite sides thereof; said holder being provided with a door opening, and a vignetter adapted to be inserted through said door opening into engagement with said rack bar.

4. A printing apparatus comprising a negative holder adapted to be supported in an inclined position and having an open top and bottom, a source of light for said holder, a platen cooperating with said holder at the top thereof, said negative holder being provided with shoulders for retaining a plate therein, a pressure bar hinged to said holder, a link connection between said pressure bar and said platen and locking means for holding said pressure bar in platen closing position, a normally opened switch carr1ed by said holder at the inner end thereof, a push rod mounted in said negative holder and pro'ecting beyond the open ends thereof, sai push rod being adapted to contact with said switch at one end thereof, and means carried by said pressure bar for engaging the other end of said push rod for closing a circuit through said switch.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. LEY.

Witnesses:

J W. MCINERNY, WILLI-AM A.. MCINERNY. 

